Angela Bryceland

Angela is many things; 48, my ex girlfriend, an amazing mother to our daughter Eleanor, my best friend and terminally ill.  In 2016 Angela underwent surgery and follow up treatment following a breast cancer diagnosis, a year or so later she needed further surgery to remove all the lymph nodes under her left arm as well as part of her chest muscle, where it had also spread. Fast forward to 2019 and Angela is diagnosed with stage four secondary cancer in her lungs and bones, her treatment is now palliative.  Angela has a constantly swollen and painful left arm, a condition known as lymphoedema, often struggles to walk or breath properly. For the last few years both she and Eleanor have been living with me as we attempt to prepare for the future both myself and Eleanor will inevitably face. 

Recently Angela was given a place at St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln where she remained for over three weeks, the goal was to achieve some degree of pain management and to hopefully build her up a little. I’ve mentioned St Barnabas events for many years on the radio but until seeing close up what they do I have been very green to it all, I suspect this is true for many of you reading this text. The hospice isn’t just a place that people go to die, Angela isn’t at that point yet, she’s not good, she may not experience many ups, and may have plenty of downs on the road ahead, but I cannot praise the hospice enough for all they’ve done for her, it truly is a place of immense support and comfort.

Until now only my closest friends have known of Angela’s situation but in the hope of raising awareness and some much needed funds for the hospice it feels like the right time to change that.

Our daughter Eleanor and myself are taking part in the St Barnabas Colour Dash at the Lincolnshire Showground on May 11th. Please consider sponsoring us.

Thank you.

John xxx

About the hospice ...

St Barnabas Hospice is a local independent charity and every year we support more than 9,000 people across Lincolnshire with a life limiting or terminal condition. We deliver free, high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care and support to patients, their families and carers. We aim to enable them to live as fully as they are able for however many days, weeks or months they have left.We are reliant on the financial support our community provides so that we can be there for more patients, their families and carers, every day of the year.